Top Things to Do in the Delaware Water Gap This Summer

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is one of the most underrated outdoor destinations on the entire East Coast — and most people drive right past it on I-80 without stopping. That's a mistake worth correcting. Wedged between the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and the Kittatinny Ridge of New Jersey, this stretch of protected land along the Delaware River offers more genuine outdoor experiences than most people expect from a place less than 90 minutes from New York City.

Here's what's actually worth doing here, starting with the thing the Delaware Water Gap does better than almost anywhere else.

What's the Best Activity in the Delaware Water Gap?

The river. Everything else here is great — but the Delaware River is the main event, and paddling or floating it is the kind of experience people talk about for years.

The options are wide open depending on your group. Want to drift and let the current do the work? Tube the Delaware on a 4-mile float that takes 3 to 5 hours of sun, music, and zero effort. Want more control over where you go? Canoes and kayaks offer routes from 6 to 16 miles with stunning river scenery the whole way. Bringing a big group? Rafts fit up to 8 people and require no experience. The Delaware is wide, calm, and genuinely forgiving — it's a river that welcomes beginners without boring experienced paddlers.

Chamberlain Canoes has been outfitting trips on this stretch since 1968. If you're visiting the Water Gap and you only do one thing, make it a day on the river.

Are There Good Hikes in the Delaware Water Gap?

Yes — some of the best hiking in the Mid-Atlantic runs right through here.

The Appalachian Trail crosses the Delaware River at the Gap itself, and the New Jersey side offers two standout hikes. Mount Tammany is the area's most popular summit — a 3.6-mile loop that climbs steeply to 1,527 feet with dramatic views of the river and the Gap below. It's genuinely stunning, and it earns it. The Dunnfield Creek Trail offers a gentler alternative along a forested creek corridor with small cascades.

On the Pennsylvania side, the Kittatinny Ridge Trail offers long ridge walks with wide views east toward the Gap. Less trafficked than the NJ trails, more solitary. Serious hikers can string together sections of the AT here for longer half-day or full-day loops.

Can You Swim at the Delaware Water Gap?

Yes, and it's one of the underappreciated pleasures of the area.

The Delaware River itself has sandy banks and calm stretches that are perfect for wading and swimming, especially during peak summer. River paddlers routinely pull over onto gravel bars and sandbars to swim mid-trip — it's part of the experience.

For a proper waterfall experience, Dingmans Fallsin the Delaware Water Gap NRA is worth the short hike in. The main falls drop 130 feet over a basalt cliff — one of the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania — and the surrounding hemlock forest keeps the trail cool even in July. It's free, accessible, and about 20 minutes from the main recreation area. Don't miss it.

Are There Bald Eagles on the Delaware River?

More than you'd think. Bald eagles made a dramatic comeback on the Delaware River over the past few decades, and the stretch through the Water Gap is one of the better spots on the East Coast to see them in the wild.

Sightings are most common in spring and summer, and they happen often right from the river. If you're paddling and you see a massive dark bird with a white head perched in a dead tree along the bank — that's not a coincidence. The eagles nest here and fish the same river you're floating. Osprey are also common. Keep your eyes up.

What's the Town of Delaware Water Gap Like?

Small, charming, and worth an hour or two. The borough of Delaware Water Gap, NJ sits right at the foot of the Gap on the New Jersey side, and it punches well above its size in terms of character.

The main draw is the Deer Head Inn, a legendary jazz club that's been hosting live music since 1947 — one of the longest-running jazz venues in the country. On weekends especially, it draws serious musicians. There are also independent galleries, a handful of good restaurants, and historic architecture that dates to the era when the Gap was a major Victorian tourist destination. It's the kind of town that rewards wandering.

Is the Delaware River Good for Fishing?

The Delaware is consistently rated one of the best fishing rivers in the Eastern United States. It's one of the last major undammed rivers on the East Coast, which has allowed fish populations to recover and thrive in ways most rivers can't support.

American shad runs in spring are legendary — the Delaware shad fishery is one of the most significant on the Atlantic coast. Smallmouth bass fishing is excellent throughout the summer. Troutare in the headwater tributaries. If you're a fly fisher, wade-fishing the smaller streams feeding into the Delaware is its own world.

Can You Camp Along the Delaware River?

Yes, and sleeping on the riverbank after a full day of paddling is one of the best ways to experience this place.

Chamberlain Canoes runs overnight canoe trips on routes ranging from 14 to 49 miles over one to four days. You paddle, you camp on river islands or along the bank, you wake up to birdsong and mist on the water. It's a legitimately different experience from a day trip — slower, more immersive, the kind of thing that recalibrates your sense of time.

Ready to Make a Plan?

If this is your first visit to the Delaware Water Gap, start with the river — it's what makes the whole area worth the trip. Our tubing trips are the easiest entry point for a relaxed summer day, or check the canoe routes if you want to cover more ground. The trip guide has everything you need to plan your day.